Endurance+

New Numbers for Athletes Athletes love numbers: mileage, splits, watts, elevation, ounces, and so on. Well, here are three new numbers (and a bonus!) that athletes should know for the biggest race of our lives: the race to sustainability.
A presentation of Bill McKibben and 350.org's Fossil Free math.

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Number 1

2 Celsius
There is a global, science-endorsed view that the increase in (average/mean) global temperature should be held below two degrees Celcius. In other words, 2o Celcius is a threshold which, if broken, begins to unleash some pretty nasty side-effects. The threshold was articulated in the 2009 Climate Accord, drafted for that year's international climate conference, and is reflective of other international agreements from the G8 and MEF. Doesn't sound like a lot? This isn't about how many layers you'll need on your next ski trip. 2o Celcius is enough to upset atmospheric and ecological equilibrium that will result in extreme weather, loss of biodiversity, acidic oceans, melting glaciers, and sea level rise.

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Number 2

565 Gigatons
The limit - in gigatons of carbon emissions - that we can emit before breaking the 2o Celcius threshold. Global mean/average temperature is rising as a result (primarily) of the combustion (burning) of fossil fuels - gas in your tank, or coal or natural gas at the power plant - which emits CO2. CO2 emissions - although invisible and seemingly weightless - can be measured in tons, then gigatons. 565 gigatons is a lot - in my view, this isn't about a 100% fossil free economy. It's about approaching that limit gracefully over the next few hundred years, or face-planting through it before our kids are in college. We can extend our CO2 budget with higher gas mileage vehicles, energy efficiency, a smarter electric grid, and clean energy power plants.

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Number 3

2,795 Gigatons
The potential carbon emissions that would result from burning all currently known fossil fuel reserves. Utilizing all potential fossil fuel reserves is 5x our carbon budget (565 Gigatons, from previous slide). How would this happen? The thinking goes: if left unchecked, we are going to blow right through a) our carbon budget and b) the other 2,000 gigatons because it is in the economic interest of fossil fuel companies to do so. It's a runaway train that makes a lot of people rich. Fuel economy standards, energy efficiency, clean energy - these are all brakes on the train, that make the same people angry. Another interesting thing about this number is its finality: forget climate change, we are going to run out of fossil fuels. People love to forget this because, well, so far so good.

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Bonus Number

The atmospheric concentration of carbon - in parts per million - that will keep climate change in check. We're currently at 392; we passed 350 in about 1990. Also the name of the best, most effective grassroots climate movement on the planet, for the planet: www.350.org.

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So What?
There are 15 million endurance athletes in the United States alone; the recreational activities we value make us inherent stakeholders in the climate conversation. Outdoor athletes and adventurers can buy, vote and advocate for climate action and stewardship: Buy: Make sure your favorite outdoor brands publish a high quality sustainability report; if they don't, tell them your purchasing decision is on the line (see, for example, REI's). Vote: You can search for voting records on climate and conservation issues using the database from the League of Conservation Voters. Advocate: Winter sports enthusiasts can now connect and advocate through the organization Protect Our Winters (POW); Endurance+ is working on a similar platform for endurance athletes and adventurers. A presentation of Bill McKibben and 350.org's Fossil Free math.